Originally Posted by
The Human Car
Quite. The second sentence is an especially interesting read.
Not so much! The first sentence is the definition. The second sentence merely indicates some synonyms.
"Lane splitting is riding a bicycle or motorcycle between lanes in the same direction as traffic. It is also sometimes called lane sharing, whitelining,[1] filtering, or stripe-riding.[2] Lane splitting usually refers to moving at a greater speed than traffic, in response to a traffic slowdown,[3][4] a form of filtering forward."
"Lane sharing" has
multiple meanings. That is, the term "lane sharing" is ambiguous. Note that the "lane splitting" laws use the term "lane splitting" and
not "lane sharing" (as far as I can determine).
MahiMahi are sometimes called "dolphins". That
doesn't make them porpoises!
Originally Posted by
The Human Car
As far as the restriction to drive within lanes; the word drive applies only to motor vehicles and not cyclists.
That would probably depend on the particular state law. In NJ, cyclists are "drivers".
http://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/cgi-bin...Doc_Frame_PG42
Bicycles have the same duties as other vehicles
unless there is an exception made for them. The FRAP laws provide such an exception. "Riding abreast" laws provide another. The "drive within lane" laws
preclude "lane splitting" unless there is an exception made for it.
""Driver" means the rider or driver of a horse, bicycle or motorcycle or the driver or operator of a motor vehicle, unless otherwise specified."
Originally Posted by
The Human Car
Driving on the shoulder is generally prohibited while riding on the shoulder is allowed.
The "riding on the shoulder" thing appears to be an legal oddity.
"Traveling" in the shoulder is often what is not allowed. In some states (eg, NY), bicycles are explicitly allowed to travel on the shoulder. In many other states (it seems), it not explicitly mentioned. This means it's
technically illegal, in these states, to ride on the shoulder because without an explicit exception bicycles have the same duties as other vehicles! But clearly,
in practice, riding on the shoulder is legal. The fact that some state laws mention it explicitly indicates that something is otherwise
missing from the traffic law.
Originally Posted by
The Human Car
it never was my contention that lane splitting is slam dunk legal and there are arguments on both sides.
You were pretty definite about it though you waffle a bit with the YMV. Note that your statement is
based on there being a difference between "lane splitting" and "lane sharings"!
Originally Posted by
The Human Car
Lane splitting is legal in DC and I will assert that it is legal in any state that allows motorists and cyclists to share the same lane to accommodate faster moving traffic (cars are not always the faster vehicle) YMV in court with this little tidbit. (If cars can ride the line to pass a cyclist then why can't we do the same?)
Originally Posted by
The Human Car
Lastly riding abreast is sharing a lane not splitting a lane by your definitions. That is you can ride two abreast on only one lane same direction of traffic and you do not ride the stripe between lanes of same direction of traffic.
"Riding abreast"
is "lane sharing" (of some sort) but typically there are laws that specifically address riding bicycles abreast.
Originally Posted by
The Human Car
But that is sort of my point the terms lane sharing and lane splitting are often used interchangeably which makes trying to make them unique concepts rather difficult.
The term "lane spitting" has legal standing (it's used in laws) and
it has a specific legal meaning (which happens to match the definition wikipedia uses).
"Lane sharing" appears to have no standard meaning! It's possible that "lane splitting" is a
type of "lane sharing" but bicycles are not "lane splitting" by riding FRAP.